Mary Katherine lives with her Grandmother, actually she feels like she was given a new lease on life when her Grandmother asked her Father if she could live with her and help in her shop in town. Mary Katherine's Daed never treated her right and ridiculed her about everything. There was no physical abuse but there was emotional abuse, not only to Mary Katherine but toward her Mother also. Weaving was Mary Katherine's favorite thing to do and since moving in with her Grandmother she was free to weave whenever she felt like it.

Jacob has known Mary Katherine since they attended school together. What she didn't know was that he loved her quietly, he never said or did anything to let her know. Love and marriage was the farthest thing from her mind though, she wanted nothing to do with any man, she thought all men were like her Daed. She was confused as to where she belonged in this world, she has an Englisch friend, Jamie, and sometimes feels like the Englisch world would be a lot better than being Amish.

When Daniel, another schoolmate, returns from Florida to sell the family farm, he shows an interest in Mary Katherine. Jacob doesn't like what he see's and starts to show an interest also. Mary Katherine doesn't realize that they are both vying for her attention.

When Mary Katherine's Mother has a heart attack she returns home to take care of her because she knows her Daed won't do anything for himself and her Mother will be doing the daily chores before she's completely recovered. She was right too! Her Daed had not changed at all during the time she'd been staying at her Grandmothers house, IF he ever talked to her, it was to cut her down. She finally had enough of his treatment and leaves, taking off walking to town on a rainy day.

What will happen to Mary Katherine? You'll have to read for yourself, no hint from me. I really did enjoy this book, I think it's the first book I've read that Barbara has written and I must say that I'm looking forward to finding some more by her. You will not be sorry if you purchase this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

This is the first book in the author's new series Stitches in Time. Mary Katherine is restless and hounded by others to join the Amish church. Raised by an overly strict father and a pushover mother, Mary Katherine has little confidence in herself, but begins to heal emotionally when she moves in with her grandmother Leah. She works in Leah's craft shop, along with her cousins Anna and Naomi. Each cousin has talent in various handcrafts, and Mary Kathrine's is weaving. Thanks to her father's criticism, Mary Katherine knows that words can hurt more than physical wounds, and the emotional pain takes much longer to heal.

I found myself pulling for Mary Katherine right away, and also drawn into Naomi and Anna's lives as well. Leah is the kind of grandmother that we all wish we could have, wise and compassionate, knowing when to push a bit and when to back off. In some ways, Leah reminds me of my grandmothers. I also enjoyed the cameos and short updates on characters from Barbara's Quilts of Lancaster County series. I can't wait for the next book in the series, scheduled to release this autumn. :-)

Barbara Cameron in her new book, "Her Restless Heart" Book One in the Stitches in Time Series published by Abingdon Press takes us into the life of Mary Katherine in the Amish community in Lancaster County.

From the back cover: Looking outward, searching inward

Mary Katherine is caught between the traditions of her faith and the pull of a different life. When Daniel, an Amish man from Florida, arrives, Mary Katherine feels drawn to him and curious about the life he leads away from Lancaster County.

But her longtime friend Jacob has fallen in love with her, and he's afraid of losing Mary Katherine to this outsider.

Will the conflicted Mary Katherine be lost to the Englisch world, or to Daniel, who may take her away to Florida? Or will she embrace her Amish faith and recognize Jacob as the man she should marry and build a life with?

In "Her Restless Heart" worlds collide; Lancaster County, Florida and the Englisch world. For Mary Katherine each has something to offer that she needs and she is torn between them all. This is a story of self-esteem and the things we do as human beings to build our self-esteem when our parents have not given it to us. We build our relationships on who is helping to support our self-esteem whether they are good or bad. On top of everything Ms. Cameron manages to weave a romance into this story that just captivates you. She makes you care for all the characters and their journey. This is also just plain fun and exciting as well. Don't start this book late at night because it will cost you sleep. I look forward to the next book in the series.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Mary Katherine was doing what she loved - weaving items to sell at her grandmother Leah's shop, Stitches In Time. A year ago, Mary Katherine left her mother and controlling father's farm to live with Leah and help run Stitches In Time with her cousins Naomi and Anna. She should have been happy but she was feeling restless. She was attracted to her English friend Jamie's lifestyle. Mary Katherine was 22 years old and not yet baptized into the Amish faith. She wasn't ready for that commitment yet. Nor was she ready to commit to dating a young man, even though Jacob Miller had an interest in her. Does Mary Katherine ever get baptised? Will she ever be ready to date? Read Her Restless Heart to find out.

This story didn't seem well thought out at times. Mary Katherine was 22 years old and her grandmother was in her late forties. What age does that leave Mary Katherine's mother? Mary Katherine lived with her grandmother yet the only time they had heart to heart talks was at the shop. The Amish in this story used a lot of English phrases, like dating instead of courting. It got to be annoying how many times it was said that Mary Katherine was restless. Every week-end Mary Katherine went out to dinner with Jamie and spent the night at her house to watch movies. I thought this kind of friendship was discouraged among the Amish. Daniel Kurtz was not a main character like the book description makes it appear.

I like Barbara Cameron as a writer from her previous stories that I read. I thought A Time For Peace: Quilts of Lancaster County Book 3 was a well written story. You can read my book review on my blog. I also read An Amish Christmas: December In Lancaster County and liked that book. I didn't enjoy Her Restless Heart as much as I hoped I would. I do plan on reading Journey Of The Heart: Stitches in Time Book 2.

I received a free copy of this eBook from NetGalley and Abingdon Press for my honest review.

I typically don't read the books that are set in Amish communities because I find them bland (sorry!), or I can't relate. But I loved this book. These characters had real feelings, struggles and flaws. Although it wasn't a terribly "deep" book and she could have done a better job with the father/daughter issues, the author did a good job mixing humor with drama. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!